Illustration of rein
- R rein 1
1
: a strap fastened to a bit by which a rider or driver controls an animal
—usually used in plural
2
a
: a restraining influence : check
kept a tight rein on the proceedings
b
: controlling or guiding power
—usually used in plural
the reins of government
3
: opportunity for unhampered activity or use
gave full rein to her imagination
reined; reining; reins
1
: to control or direct with or as if with reins
2
: to check or stop by or as if by a pull at the reins
reined in her horse
couldn't rein his impatience
1
: to stop or slow up one's horse or oneself by or as if by pulling the reins
2
archaic
: to submit to the use of reins
Examples of rein in a Sentence
Noun
He has people working for him, but he has a tight rein on every part of the process.
after the president resigned, the vice president stepped in and took the reins of the company
Verb
try to rein in your spending, so you have some money left for saving
Recent Examples on the Web
Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 29 July 2025
McKeever is seen on video whipping the animal and pulling on its reins without giving it water.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 21 July 2025
David Armstrong, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
Many of those groups have not been brought under the control of new national military, and Syria’s authorities have shown little capacity to rein them in.
—Ephrat Livni, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rein
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Noun
Slow Horses has already been renewed up to Season 7 and Smith has handed over the reins for Season 6 to Gaby Chiappe, and Ben Vanstone for Season 7, but will not remain on the production in any capacity beyond Season 5.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 29 July 2025
McKeever is seen on video whipping the animal and pulling on its reins without giving it water.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 21 July 2025
Verb
But no one has pieced together the full account of what the drugmaker Celgene did, how federal regulators failed to rein it in and what the story reveals about unrestrained drug pricing in America.
—David Armstrong, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
Many of those groups have not been brought under the control of new national military, and Syria’s authorities have shown little capacity to rein them in.
—Ephrat Livni, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rein
Cite this Entry
“Rein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rein. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rein
1 of 2 noun1
: a line or strap fastened to a bit on each side for controlling an animal (as a horse)
—usually used in plural
2
a
: an influence that slows, limits, or holds back
kept the child under a tight rein
b
: controlling or guiding power
—usually used in plural
seized the reins of government
3
: complete freedom : scope
gave full rein to her imagination
rein
2 of 2 verb
: to check, control, or stop by or as if by reins
reined in the horse
couldn't rein his impatience
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